Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is. -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

My Approach to Therapy

I have been doing individual therapy for over 5 years. In that time, I have been able to identify four key aspects of therapy that have helped make it successful. Many of these come from core social work values that I was taught in college and others simply come from my own experience as a therapist.

I use an eclectic style of therapy, pulling from many different modalities. These include cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based therapies, narrative therapy, and solution-focused therapy. I also have been training in the Gottman method of couples therapy as well as emotionally-focused couples therapy. I have taught groups covering topics such self-esteem, mood disorders, and chronic pain.

More recently, I have been trained in dialectical behavioral therapy and was part of a consult team for 2 years. I have co-facilitated DBT groups and received supervision from a DBT therapist. I also completed my EMDR basic training in 2012 and have intentions to become EMDR certified. I have also been to numerous trainings on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). See below for more information on these therapies.

Strengths-Based

Therapy focuses on resilience rather than just deficits.

Therapy is not just about solving a problem, it’s about finding the solution yourself based on the skills and values you already have. Therapy is about uncovering strengths as much as it is about solving problems.

Person-in-environment

It's about you and where you come from.

Depression, anxiety, and stress look and feel different to every person. Likewise, solutions to problems depend on the person and the world in which they live.

Trust and Connection

Knowing and feeling comfortable with your therapist

I tend to have a friendly, open approach to therapy. Building a strong rapport with my clients has always been of utmost importance to me.

Acceptance

You are who you are, and that is great.

Acceptance is an often controversial topic, mostly because we often don’t want to accept. Acceptance is being able to say “It is what it is”. The great thing is, you don’t have to like it!

Therapy Types:

The general goal of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility – the ability to contact the present moment more fully as a conscious human being, and to change or persist in behavior when doing so serves valued ends. Psychological flexibility is established through six core ACT processes. Each of these areas are seen as a positive psychological skill, not merely a method of avoiding psychopathology. These areas are: Acceptance, Cognitive Fusion, Being Present, Self-as-Context, Values, and Committed Action. In our sessions I will walk you through each of these 6 processes and help you connect to a more valued, fulfilling life. For more information please visit the ACBS Website

EMDR is a method of psychotherapy that is primarily used for people that want to work through past experiences of trauma. Trauma can include something profound like witnessing combat violence or domestic violence to something minor like test failure or job loss. EMDR uses a set of standardized protocols combined with bilateral stimulation (this can be done with eye movements or other techniques) to help reprocess the negative experience and belief that pairs with it. EMDR is evidence-based with many studies confirming its effectiveness. For more details on the eight phases of EMDR, visit the EMDRIA Website.

The term “dialectical” means a synthesis or integration of opposites. The primary dialectic within DBT is between the seemingly opposite strategies of acceptance and change. For example, DBT therapists accept clients as they are while also acknowledging that they need to change in order to reach their goals. In addition, all of the skills and strategies taught in DBT are balanced in terms of acceptance and change. For example, the four skills modules include two sets of acceptance-oriented skills (mindfulness and distress tolerance) and two sets of change-oriented skills (emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness). In our sessions I will use components of the four modules of DBT skills training to help reduce problem behaviors and enhance more positive behaviors. For more information visit Dr. Linehan’s Website.